A few days later, Uchiha Fugaku arrived at the Hokage Tower with more than ten other clan heads.
"Clan Head Fugaku, and the rest of you—what business brings you here? "
The ANBU guards outside the Hokage Tower tensed up as they questioned Fugaku and his entourage.
Of course, they were well aware of the strained relations between Uchiha Fugaku and the Third Hokage lately.
So, seeing him arrive with such a large group naturally made them wary.
"We request an audience with Lord Hokage. Please announce our presence."
Fugaku spoke calmly.
"Very well."
One of the ANBU quickly departed for the Hokage's office to make the report.
"Uchiha Fugaku has arrived with more than ten people? "
Hearing the ANBU's words, the Third Hokage's heart grew wary. Fugaku clearly wasn't here with good intentions.
He wanted to refuse the meeting, but there was no avoiding it—if Fugaku had come to the Hokage Tower, then he already knew Hiruzen was inside.
"…Let them in."
The ANBU returned shortly, escorting Fugaku and the other clan heads into the office.
"Clan Head Fugaku, what is the meaning of bringing so many people into the Hokage Tower? "
The Third Hokage's sharp gaze swept across the group trailing behind Fugaku.
"Lord Hokage, I request that a village council be convened to address the unjust treatment of the Fourth Hokage's orphaned son."
Fugaku spoke with a faint smile.
As I thought—he came with ill intent!
Hiruzen sneered inwardly. Fugaku's words made his intentions obvious.
If such a council were held, the years of mistreatment Naruto had suffered—under his own watch—would certainly become a target of harsh criticism.
There was no way he could agree.
"I refuse! "
The Third Hokage's rejection came swiftly.
But Fugaku was not surprised.
Anyone could see that this council's true purpose was to censure the Hokage himself. How could Hiruzen possibly agree of his own accord?
Still, since Fugaku had come this far, he wasn't about to be stonewalled so easily.
"Lord Hokage, as I recall, the village has a regulation: if more than ten clan heads jointly petition, then a council must be convened. It cannot be avoided, no matter the reason."
Fugaku smiled faintly as he looked straight at Hiruzen.
The Third Hokage's expression turned grim. His cold eyes swept over the clan heads behind Fugaku, and at once he understood why they had come together.
"You too intend to petition for this council? "
Under the Hokage's heavy gaze, many of the clan heads felt a chill in their hearts. Instinctively, some even lowered their heads.
After all, the Third Hokage had ruled Konoha for decades—his authority and presence had left an indelible mark in their minds, one that naturally stirred fear.
But since they had followed Fugaku here, they had already prepared themselves to face the Hokage's anger head-on.
"Yes, Lord Hokage. We request a council to discuss the unjust treatment of the Fourth Hokage's orphaned son."
"…Very well. Very well indeed."
The Third Hokage shot them all a fierce glare before looking away.
"Now, Lord Hokage, with this many clan heads, the number should suffice—don't you agree? "
Fugaku chuckled lightly.
"Hmph. The council will be held tomorrow. You may leave now."
With a cold snort, the Third Hokage begrudgingly gave his consent.
The next morning, the village council convened—much to the Third Hokage's displeasure.
Present were the various clan heads, along with several elite jōnin from the civilian ranks.
Knowing full well why this meeting had been called, many turned their eyes toward the Hokage seated at the head of the chamber—their gazes filled with disappointment.
Uzumaki Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's only son. Yet for years, he had suffered mistreatment, even being branded by villagers as the "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox."
And the one responsible for this situation was none other than the Third Hokage.
This left many feeling bitter and disheartened. They couldn't help but think: If it had been us who died in battle, would our children be treated the same way?
No shinobi would wish to sacrifice themselves for the village, only to have their orphaned children suffer such indignities afterward.
"Lord Hokage, this so-called 'Nine-Tailed Fox brat'—Uzumaki Naruto—is he truly the Fourth Hokage's son? "
The council had barely begun when someone posed the question to Hiruzen.
But it wasn't Uchiha Fugaku who spoke—it came from another.
An elite jōnin from the civilian ranks fixed his eyes on the Hokage as he asked.
The Fourth Hokage had risen from the civilian population himself, and so this jōnin felt a natural affinity for him.
Now, hearing that Naruto might truly be the Fourth's son—and knowing the hardships he had suffered—the jōnin could not contain his anger.
"Lord Hokage, we ask you plainly—tell us, is Naruto truly the Fourth Hokage's orphaned son? "
One after another, several more elite civilian jōnin joined in, their voices tight with suppressed rage.
The Fourth Hokage, who came from their own ranks, was someone they revered and admired greatly.
To learn that his orphaned son had suffered unjustly—it was infuriating.
Even Fugaku hadn't expected such a fierce reaction from them.
He had anticipated the anger of the Fourth Hokage's former comrades, but he had underestimated the influence Minato held among the civilian shinobi and the intensity of their feelings.
"…Naruto is indeed the son of the Fourth Hokage."
Under their unrelenting stares, Hiruzen furrowed his brow and admitted it.
"Why then? Why treat the Fourth Hokage's orphan this way?! "
The elite jōnin's eyes reddened with fury as they demanded answers.
"…Because, in addition to being the Fourth's son, Naruto is also this generation's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
The Hokage's gaze swept across the council chamber as he spoke.
"The Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki? "
The civilian jōnin were taken aback—they hadn't expected Naruto to carry such a burden. For a moment, they were stunned.
"To keep his status as Jinchūriki hidden from other villages and to protect him, I was forced to conceal his parentage… and spread rumors of the demon fox so that villagers would stay away from him."
Seizing the moment of their shock, Hiruzen offered his explanation.
Hearing this, the anger in their faces eased slightly.
So, the Hokage had done it to protect Naruto's secret—that he was the Nine-Tails' host—from falling into enemy hands.
Though they still felt uneasy, their rage was no longer as fierce.
Seeing them swayed, Fugaku knew he couldn't let Hiruzen slip away so easily.
"Lord Hokage," Fugaku spoke up coldly, "what you did cannot be called protection."